State Health Dept. high on legalizing marijuana

<p>After Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked the state Health Department to review the idea of legalizing marijuana in New York, the health commissioner found that the pros outweigh the cons.</p>

News 12 Staff

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Jun 19, 2018, 2:13 AM

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Updated 2,138 days ago

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After Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked the state Health Department to review the idea of legalizing marijuana in New York, the health commissioner found that the pros outweigh the cons.

Dr. Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, issued a statement in support of the move -- if the industry is regulated.

"Special consideration will need to be given to a number of factors, including the age of who can purchase marijuana," the statement continued.

Other factors were who can grow and sell the drug, taxation of the industry and consideration of where dispensaries can open up shop.

Long Islanders have mixed feelings about the buzz surrounding the plan.

Susan Minichello, of Hicksville, and Joan Breidbart, of Woodbury, both say they support medicinal marijuana but have concerns about recreational use.

"I think people might abuse it," Breidbart says.

Others, like Port Washington's Susan Lubrano, say pot is not a big deal.

"Nobody gives fines," she says. "I walk around the city, everyone's smoking pot in the street."

Gov. Cuomo plans to review the Health Department report and then make his own recommendation on whether to legalize it.

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